Registering mechanism.



C. S. AYRES.

REGISTERING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 15, 19H.

win esaer.

rm: mamas parzns ca. PHnTu-Lrrnm, WASH mm mm a c.

Patented May 29, 1917.

3 SHEETSSHEET I.

C S. AYRES.

REGISTERWG MECHANISM.

APPLICATiON FILED APR. 15. 1911.

Patented May 29, 1917.

3 SHETS-SHEET 2- w @7260! m day m: NORRIS PErEns 00.. ruomuma. wnsumcmu. 0 c.

C. S. AYRES.

REGISTERING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 15. um.

Patented May 29, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- M72868 as.

m: mamas PETERS co" PHUmJ-JTND" wAsmm: mu, 0 c.

STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES S. .AYRES, 0F CLEVELAND, OHIO.

REGISTERING MECHANISM.

Application filed April 15, 1911.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES S. AYREs, a citizen of the United States,residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and ta-te of Ohio, haveinvented a certaln new and useful Improvement in RegisteringMecl'ianism, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription.

This invention relates to a device for automatically registering thenumber of persons who may pass a given place in entering an inclosure.The device is of general application, but it' is specifically designedto be used in connection with the prepayment street railroad car, and inthis connection will automatically register the persons ontering the carwithout let or hindrance on the part of the conductor.

In general, the device comprises one or a pair of swinging arms whichare moved by the passenger in passing into the car, a pivoted plate uponwhich the passenger steps after passing the arms, thereby depressing theplate, which movement of the plate in conjunction with the movement ofthe arms automatically operates a registering device. This plate isusually placed in the floor of the platform of the car just in advanceof the end sill or step which permits entrance to the car inclosureproper. There is also a second plate pivoted upon the end sill or floorof the carbody proper which is placed in line with the first mentionedplate and which is connected thereto by means of levers in such a mannerthat a person step ping upon the second plate will raise the firstplate, and the ratio between the levers connecting these plates is suchthat a person of comparatively light weight stepping upon the secondplate will cause the movement of the first plate even though a heavyperson be standing upon the first mentioned plate. In this manner, theregistration of all persons who step upon the first plate or that onewhich is pivoted upon the floor of the platform will be effected.

There are sundry details in construction which will appear more at largein the specification and claims, which also enter into the invention.

Generally speaking, the invention comprises the elements andcombinations thereof set forth in the accompanying claims.

Reference should had to the accompa- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 29, 1917.

Serial No. 621,198.

nying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which Figure 1shows in elevation a portion of the body of a car and platform therefor,and showing the installation of the device of this invention; Fig. 2 isa top plan view of the device with certain portions broken away to showthe construction; Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation through the device;Fig. a is a front elevation of the device with certain portions removed; Fig. 5 is an elevation of certain of the mechanism with certainparts of the mechanism removed to more clearly show the desiredelements; Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of the controllingelements in the mechanism; Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view showing themanner of connection between the cables and the operating arm.

At the present time, most pay-enter cars are equipped with a fare box inwhich the passenger deposits his fare and the conductor merely registersthe fare, makes change and sells tickets.

The fare box affords but a partial solution of the problem involved andis open to sev eral serious objections, one being that the money whichis put into the fare box is tied up for the time being and cannot beused for the making of change. A second objection lies in the fact thatthe registration of the passengers is dependent upon the conductorpulling the register rope, and there fore the register is not a certainindication of the number of passenges who have entered the car.

The device shown in this application by registering every person whopasses into the car determines the number of passengers for whose farethe conductor is responsible, and this is done without 'ithdrawing themoney from circulation, for in the use of this device, the conductorreceives the money from the passengers and thus is always supplied witha quantity of change.

The major part of the mechanism for operating this device is containedwithin a box 1, which is provided with a flange 2 and this box isinserted through an opening in the car platform, which opening is ofsuch a size that the flange 2, which extends all the way around the box,rests upon the floor of the platform, the opening in the floor being inform the same as the outline of the box.

At one end, the box is provided with ped:

estals or bases 3 and 3, which are each formed with a central opening,the opening being screw-threaded near the upper portion which cooperateswith the threaded end of a tubular member 4, as shown in Fig. 3. At itsupper end, this tubular member is screwthreaded and is provided with acap 5 having a beveled upper surface which cooper ates with a member 6,the under surface of which is beveled to cooperate with the cap 5. Themember 6 is provided with an open ing through the center thereof, squareor angular in shape, for the purpose of receivingthe square or angularhead of a rod 7, the rod extending through the cap 5, and at its upperend is provided with a screw threaded projection 8 which cooperates witha cap nut 9, as clearly shown.

Within the casing and beneath the pedestal 3 there is an annular member10 provided with a beveled head which seats within an opening '3 havingbeveled sides and formed in the lower wall of the pedestal This member10 has an annular body and is provided with two annular ribs 11 and 12which are spaced from each other. The member 10 is formed with a centralopening through which the rod 7 extends. The lower end of the rod isprovided with means for engaging the member 10 and holding it in place.These means may assume any desired form, preferably being a nut engagingwith the screw threaded end of the rod 7, so that sutficient tension maybe placed upon the rod 7, that this rod and the parts carried therebymay be secured with sufficient rigidity that there shall not be anyplay.

The mechanism which has just been de scribed is duplicated upon theother side of the device. That is to say, both pedestals 3 and 3 carryduplicate mechanisms, as has just been described.

A cable 13 shown in Fig. 2 may be secured upon the annular rib 11 and isconnected with a cable 14 which is similarly secured upon the mechanismcarried upon the pedestal 3 Between the two cables 13 and 14 there arerods 15 and 16 which are connected by a turn buckle 17 for the purposeof varying the tension. There are also cables 18 and 19 which aresecured to the annular ribs 12 in the same manner as has been describedwith respect to the cables 13 and 1 1, and these cables 18 and 19 arealso secured to each other in a manner similar to that which has beendescribed. It will therefore be apparent that the rotation of either rod7 will cause the rotation of the other.

The members 6 are provided with arms 20 and 21 which extend toward eachother, as clearly indicated in Fig. 2. These arms by their movementcause the rotation of the rods 7.

Upon the under side of the'annular rib 12 which is associated with thepedestal 3 there is a pin and to this pin secured a spring 23 by meansof a link 21-. The spring 23 is secured to some relatively immovablebody, such for instance as the underside of the floor of the carplatform. There is also a rod pivoted upon the pin which rod isconnected with the plunger of a dash pct 26, and this dash pot ispivotally secured upon the bracket 27 which is bolted to a side of thecasing 1.

It will be apparent that the arms 20 and 21 when moved will cause thetlexure of the spring 23, which spring will cause the arms 20, 21 toreturn to the position shown in Fig. 2, when these arms are released.The dash pot is provided to cushion the return of these arms so thattheir movement may not be too violent.

The casing 1 is provided with a rib or web 28 which extends across thecasing 1, as shown in Fig. 1. and this rib, at its upper portion, isformed with a V-shaped notch 29. A. plate 39 is formed with a knife edgeupon the depending portion 31 thereof, which knife edge rests in theV-shaped notch 29 and forms a pivot for the plate. This plate 30 extendstoward the rear of the box 1 and covers the mechanism which is housedwithin this box.

A plate 300 extends between the pedestals 3 and 3 and touching the floorin the front, covers the forward portion of the plate 30 at the bendtherein to form the depending portion 31. This plate prevents apassenger stumbling over the forward end of the plate 30 and protectsthe plate from being displaced.

The plate 32 is formed with a depending portion at the rear end thereof,which portion is provided with a knife edge that rests within a V-shapedgroove 3-1 formed in a block 35 which is secured upon the floor 36 ofthe car body. There is a plate 37 which is secured to the floor 36 andthe block 35 which partially extends over the depending portion 33 ofthe plate 32, and is provided to cover the pivoted portion of this plate32 in order that it may not be displaced. The plate 32 is bent at rightangles to form the depending portion 38, and this portion 38 is providedwith slots 39 through which extending portions of the plate 30 extend,

these slots being of suflicient depth to perdepending portion 31 of theplate is notched, as shown at in Fig. 2. At the opposite ends, thesemembers 42 extend through the slots 39 in the plate 32 and cooperatewith rollers 46 which are suitably mounted upon the plate 38 to extendacross the slots therein. In this manner, a rolling contact is producedbetween the lever mechanism 41 and the plate 32.

A second lever, indicated as a whole at 47, is provided with side pieces48 which are joined together by a cross member 49. At one of their ends,the side pieces 48 are pivoted upon a pin 50 which extends throughopenings formed in the side members 42 of the lever mechanism 41 and issecured to these side members 42 in any desired manner. The oppositeends of the side pieces 48 are turned upwardly as indicated i at 51 inFig. 3, and bear against the underside of the plate 30. The underside ofthe member 49 which joins the side pieces 48 formed with a knife edge,as indicated at 54 and is pivoted in a notch formed upon a stationarymember 55.

From the mechanism thus described, it will be clear that as a weight isplaced upon the plate 32, it will depress that end of the levermechanism 41 which cooperates with the plate 32, and this depressionwill lower the point at which the lever mechanism 47 is pivoted upon thelever mechanism 41, and inasmuch as the knife edge 54 cooperates with astationary member 55 to form a fixed fulcrum, the ends 51 of the levermechanism 47 will be raised and thus throw the plate 30 upward, if it bedepressed. The length of the lever arms for the lever mechanism 41 and47 may be proportioned as desired, and it is the intention to soproportion these lever arms that a minimum veight when upon the plate 32will cause the elevation of the plate 30, even when a passenger ofmaximum weight is standing thereon, and it will be clear that when theplate 32 is vacated, then the plate 30 may move downward and accomplishthe registration of the person standing thereon in a manner laterdescribed.

lVithin the casing 1 there is a bracket or bracing member formed withthe members 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, and 62. The members 62 and 55are joined together and at a point near their juncture, the bracket issecured to a wall of the casing 1, as indicated at 63. The member 56 issecured to the wall of the casing 1, as indicated at 64, the arm 59 issecured to the casing, and the ends of the members 57 and 58 are securedto the casing wall at 66. The arms 57, 58, 59, 60, 61 and 62 convergeand meet in an annular boss 87 shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, and infull lines in Fig. 3.

This boss is provided with a central opening in which is secured a pin68. Upon the pin there is loosely mounted a member 69 which is providedwith an extension 7 O. This member 69 is shown in perspective in Fig. 6and is provided with a groove 71 ccupying a portion ofthe side betweenthe top and the bottom, and a groove 72 which is below the center of themember and extends to the bottom. These two grooves 71 and 72 meet in acommon groove 73 which extends inthe same direction as the axis of themember 69. The forward upper edge of the groove 72 is beveled, asindicated at 74 for a purpose later to be described.

The space between the members 57 and 58 of the bracket heretoforedescribed is occupied by a lever 75 which is pivoted upon a pintle 7 (3that extends through openings in the members 537 and 58. T iis lever 75nor mally extends into the opening or groove 73 of the member 69 and isprovided at the end which projects within the groove 73 with a bevelshoulder 7 K.

This beveled shoulder is adapted to engage the beveled shoulder 74 whenthe member 39 is turned, as will be later described.

There is a member 78 which is secured to the members 5-6. 57, and 58 ofthe bracket heretofore described by means of screws or in any otherdesired manner, as clearly shown in Fig. and in Fig. 3. This member 78is provided. with an opening through which =xtends a movable pin 79,which pin is provided with a head 80 that normally contacts with theunderside of the plate 30. At its lower end, the pin 7 9 rests upon thelever 7 5 at a point near the end thereof. It will be apparent thereforethat as the plate 30 is depressed, the pin 79 will communicate thismotion to the lever 75 and cause the end which is associated with themember 69 to be raised,

This same member 78 supports a regulating screw 81 which may be raisedor lowered to vary the extent of movement of the plate 30.

A bell crank lever 82 is journaled in a suitable manner, as indicated at83 upon the interior wall of the casing 1 and is provided with arms 84and 85. The arm 84 is bifurcated and bears upon the top of the member 69upon opposite sides of the pin 68. The arm 85 is secured to a link 86which may be flexible or otherwise, and this link is connected with anysuitable registering mechanism, as shown. It will be clear that as themember 69 raised, the bell crank lever 82 will be moved, which willcause the movement of the link 86 and the operation of the registeringmechanism.

Upon the underside of the annular rib 12 which is carried by the member10 there is a pin 87 which is out of line with the axis of the member10. Pivoted upon this pin is a link 88 which is hingedly connected at 89with another link 90. This link 90 is conneeted with still another link91 and the last named link is pivoted upon a pin 92, which occupies anopening in the under side of the extension 70, upon the member 69. Thelinks 90 and 91 may be adjusted with respect to each other so as to takeup any lost motion.

The operation of the mechanism thus far described is as follows: \Vheneither or both of the arms 20 and 21 are moved by a passenger passingbetween the posts a to enter the car, the links 88, 90 and 91 areoperated in a manner to turn the member 69 so that the end of the leverenters a groove 72 and this groove is of such a depth that when themember 69 is thus turned, the lever 7 5 will be substantially in contactwith the top portion of the groove Then, as the passenger steps forwardupon the plate 30, the pin 79 is depressed which raises the end of thelever 75, cooperating with the member (39, and inasmuch as the lever 75is occupying the groove 72, the member 69 will be raised, thereby movingthe bell crank lever 82 and causing the link 86 to be moved to operatethe register.

As soon as the passenger steps from the plate 30 to the plate 32, thislatter plate is depressed and by the lever mechanism heretoforedescribed, the plate 30 is raised, and as before stated, the levermechanism is so proportioned that even though a second passengerimmediately steps upon the plate 30 after the first one has stepped offof it, nevertheless the plate 30 will be raised by the weight of thepassenger on the plate 32 and not until the passenger has stepped fromthat plate, will the plate 30 be depressed to register.

If the passengers are attempting to crowd past the gates or arms 20 and21 too fast, it is desirable that a means be provided for temporarilylocking these gates, and this is accomplished through the followingmechanism. The annular rib 11 upon the member 10 is notched, asindicated at 93, and co operating with these notches is a bolt 91 whichextends through an opening in the rib 28 of the casing 1, and through anopening in the bracket 95, which is secured to the casing 1, as shown inFig. 2. Around this bolt 94: is a spring 96 which is arranged so as tonormally throw the bolt forward to occupy an indentation 93. Theindentations and bolt are so arranged that when the bolt occupies one ofthe depressions 93, it locks the arms 20 and 21 against movementinwardly, but permits them to move outwardly. The bolt is secured to alink 97 which is pivoted upon one arm 98 of a bell crank lever. Anotherarm 99 is connected with a rod 100 which is suitably connected with afoot lever 101 which is pivoted upon the floor of the platform or thefloor of the car according to the place in which the conductor isstationed. The arms 98 and 99 of the bell crank lever are joined by anarm 100, and the bell crank lever is pivoted at the place where the arms98 and 99 are joined. The pivot upon which these arms move is securedupon the arm 62 of the bracket heretofore mentioned.

In practice, the conductor keeps his foot upon the lever 101 and thuspermits the passengers to pass between the arms 20 and 21. If, however,the passengers are coming too fast, he may by releasing his foot, lockthe arms 20 and 21 and thus prevent the passengers passing onto theplate 30.

It is very desirable, if not absolutely necessary, that the devices beunaffected if a passenger should step onto the plate 30 from the plate32. Such a condition may arise by a passenger stepping backward from theplate 32 to the plate 30, or in case of the necessity for a hurried exitfrom the car, it may be necessary to have all means of exitunobstructed, and of course it is absolutely necessary that there be noregistration under either circumstance which has just been named.

If then a passenger were to step upon the plate 30 from the plate 32,the pin 79 would be depressed and the lever 75 would be elevated withinthe slot 73. If then, the passenger were to again step onto the plate32, the pin 75 would merely return to its normal position, for by thistime, the arms 20, 21 would have returned to their normal position. If,however, after stepping upon the plate 30, the passenger were tocontinue past the arms 20, 21, the member 69 would be turned, while thepin 75 was elevated, but the member 69 would be turned in a directionopposite to that which it would be turned if a person were swinging thearms 20, 21 inwardly, and this being the case, the pin 75 would enterthe groove 71, and the member 69 would not be raised as is the case whenthe pin 75 enters the groove 72. Therefore, as soon as the personstepping from the plate 30 were to release the arms 20, 21, the lever 75would return to the groove 73 and drop into place.

It is impossible to swing the arms 20, 21 outwardly or away from theplate 30, unless the plate 30 first be depressed,for if the plate 30 benot raised, the lever 75 remains at the bottom of the vertical groove 73, and inasmuch as an outward movement of the arms 20, 21 causes therotatable member 69 to turn toward the right as shown in Fig. 6, thelever 75 would strike against the side of the vertical groove 73, whenit is attempted to move the arms outwardly. Therefore, for a personentering the car, the arms can move in only one direction.

It is evident that various modifications may be made in the structureherein disclosed Without departing from the spirit of the invention, andI consider such modifications within the scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a device for registering persons passing a given point, thecombination with a registering device, of a pivoted plate member and amovable arm member mounted above the plate member and moving in asubstantially horizontal plane, mechanisms operatively connecting thepivoted plate member and the movable arm member with the registeringdevice, said members being successively engaged by the person passingsaid point, the movement of one of said members setting the saidmechanism in position to operate the registering device when the otherof said members is operated.

2. In a device for registering persons passing a given point, thecombination with a registering device, of a pivoted plate and a swingingarm mounted in front of said plate, said arm and plate beingsuccessively engaged by a person passing said point, mechanismoperatively connecting the pivoted plate and the swinging arm with theregistering device, the movement of the said swinging arm setting thesaid mechanism in position to operate the registering device when thepivoted plate is operated.

3. In a device for registering persons passing a given point, thecombination with a registering device, of a pivoted plate upon which thepersons to be registered step, and a swinging arm supported in front ofand above the pivoted plate which the said persons must swing beforestepping upon the plate, mechanism operatively connectin the pivotedplate and swinging arm with the registering device, the movement of theswinging arm setting the said mechanism in position to operate theregistering device when the pivoted member is operated.

4. In a device for registering persons passing a given point, thecombination with a registering device, of a pivoted member and aswinging member, said members being adapted to be successively engagedby a person passing said point, mechanism operatively connecting theregistering device with the pivoted and swinging members, the movementof the swinging member in one direction and the subsequent depression ofthe pivoted member causing the registering device to operate, but thedepression of the pivoted member in the first instance and subsequentmovement of the swinging member being without effect upon theregistering device.

5. In a device of the character described, the combination with aregistering device, of a pivoted member and a swinging member, arotatable member, a fixed pivot upon which said rotatable member ismounted and along which it may slide, operative connection between therotatable member and a swinging member, mechanism for operating theregistering device, said mechanism being in operative position when therotatable member has been turned by the pivoted member, the saidmechanism being operated by the depression of the pivoted member.

6. In a device of the character described, the combination with aregistering device, of a pivoted member and a swinging mem ber, arotatable member, a fixed pivot upon which said rotatable member ismounted and along which it may slide, operative connections between therotatable member and the swinging member, mechanism connecting with theregistering device operated by the depression of the pivoted member,said mechanism being operative upon the rotatable member when it isturned by the swinging member in one direction, and non-operative whenturned in the opposite direction.

7. In a device of the character described, the combination with aregistering device, of a pivoted plate and a swinging arm, a rotatablemember, a fiXed pivot upon which said rotatable member is mounted andupon which it may turn and slide, means operatively connecting the armswith the said rotatable member, whereby the rotatable member is turnedas the arm is turned, a lever supported upon the fixed pivot, a pinbearing upon one end of said lever and contacting with the said pivoted.plate, the other end of said lever cooperating with the aforesaidrotatable member to raise the same when the pivoted plate is depressed,a pivoted lever, one end of which bears upon a face of the aforesaidrotatable member and operative connections between the other end of saidlever and the registering device.

8. In a device of the character described, the combination with aregistering device, of a pivoted plate, and a swinging arm, a rotatablemember mounted upon a fixed pivot along which it may slide, operativeconnections between the said rotatable member and the swinging arm, saidmember being provided with a vertical groove, and a horizontal groovealong the lower side of said member which communicates with the verticalgroove, a lever mounted upon a fixed pivot, one end of said levernormally extending into the vertical groove of the rotatable member,operative connections between the other end of said lever and thepivoted plate, whereby the end of the lever within the groove of-therotatable member is raised as the pivoted plate is depressed, a pivotedlever having one end thereof bearing upon the face of the rotatablemember, and operative connections between the other end of said leverand the registering device.

9. In a device of the character described, the combination with aregistering device, of a pivoted plate and a swinging arm, a rotatablemember mounted upon a fixed pivot along which it may slide, operativeconnections between said rotatable member and swinging arm, saidrotatable member being provided with a groove parallel with its axis inthe periphery, a horizontal groove connecting with one end of the saidgroove, and a second horizontal groove connecting with the firstmentioned groove at the other end thereof, a pivoted lever having oneend normally extending into the first mentioned groove, means wherebythe lever may be raised as the pivoted plate is depressed, the end ofsaid lever being adapted to enter the first horizontal groove upon therotatable member when the said'swinging arm is operated before the plateis depressed, and to enter the second horizontal groove when the plateis depressed before the arm is swung.

10. In a device of the cha *acter described, the combination with aregistering device, of a pivoted plate, a pair of swinging arms mountedin front of and above the said pivoted plate, said arms extending towardeach other, operative connections between the two arms whereby when oneof the arms is swung, it will cause the other arm to swing in the samedirection, a rotatable member mounted upon a fixed pivot along which itmay slide, operative connections between the said arms and the rotatablemember, whereby the rotatable member is turned as the arms are swung, apivoted lever, operative connections between one end of said lever andthe pivoted plate whereby the pivoted lever is operated as the plate isde pressed, operative connections between the other end of said leverand the said rotatable member, whereby the said rotatable member will beraised when it has been turned due to the swinging of the arms. andoperative connections between the said rotatable member and theregistering device whereby the registering device may be operated.

11. In a registering mechanism, the combination with a registeringdevice, of a pivoted plate, means operatively connecting the pivotedplate with the registering device, a second pivoted plate, said platesbeing operatively connected whereby the depression of the secondmentioned plate causes the first mentioned plate to be raised.

12. In a registering mechanism, the combination with a registeringdevice, of a pivoted plate, means operatively connecting the pivotedplate with the registering device, a second pivot plate, lever mechanismoperatively connecting with the two plates whereby the depression of thesecond mentioned plate causes the first mentioned plate to be raised.

18. In a registering mechanism, the combina tion with a registeringdevice, of a pivoted plate, means operatively connecting the pivotedplate with the registering device, a second pivoted plate, adifferential lever mechanism operatively connecting the two plates,whereby a heavy weight upon the first plate may be raised by a lightweight upon the second plate.

14. In a device of the character described, the combination with aregistering device, of a pivoted plate, a swinging arm mounted in frontof and above the said plate, operative connections between theregistering device and the swinging arm and the pivoted plate wherebythe registering device will be operated as the arm is swung and theplate depressed, a second plate behind the first pivoted plate, andoperative connections between said plates whereby the first plate willbe elevated as the second plate is depressed.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto aliix my signature in the presence oftwo witnesses.

CHARLES S. AYRES. \Vitnesses A. J. HUnsoN, H. R. SULLIVAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents. Washington, I). C.

